National

Cincinnati's highest income-inequality tract

A view of the historical Over-the-Rhine area of Cincinnati, Ohio as seen on Friday, November 4, 2011. The nation's newfound concern for income inequality and economic justice is old hat on the streets of Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. For the last 40 years, crime, resident flight, unemployment and inadequate housing have made this poverty-stricken area the city's most downtrodden and feared neighborhood. So when a new Census Bureau report found that from 2005 to 2009, a segment of Over-the-Rhine -Census Tract 17 - had the highest income inequality of more than 61,000 communities nationwide, it seemed to make perfect sense. (Ernest Coleman/MCT) MCT

St. Francis Seraph Ministry operates a soup kitchen in census tract 17 in Cincinnati, Ohio. "We see these people suffering every day. They used to have a place where they could live affordably and now they don't know where they're going to live," says James "Bubs" Kindt, resource coordinator at the Ministry. (Ernest Coleman/MCT) MCT

But Over-the-Rhineês economic renaissance in Cincinnatti, Ohio, has created some ill will. As more
buildings are razed and renovated by 3CDC, hundreds of longtime residents have been
displaced to make way for new developments. "It's forcing the underprivileged people who can't afford anything better to move out of those buildings," said James "Bubs" Kindt, resource coordinator at the St. Francis Seraph Ministry, which operates a soup kitchen in census tract 17. (Ernest Coleman/MCT) MCT

St. Francis Seraph Ministry operates a soup kitchen in census tract 17 in Cincinnati, Ohio, where Tony W., left, and Carl Carr, right, have dinner, Friday November 4, 2011. "We see these people suffering every day. They used to have a place where they could live affordably and now they don't know where they're going to live," ays James "Bubs" Kindt, resource coordinator at the Ministry. (Ernest Coleman/MCT) MCT

Georgina Dye, head cook at the soup kitchen, recently moved to an apartment in tract 17, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to be closer to work, her credit union and grocery shopping at nearby Findlay Market. She's nervous about the long, dark corridors in her apartment building and she mostly keeps to herself. But her new middle-class neighbors and the amenities they attract are a welcomed change. (Ernest Coleman/MCT) MCT

Holly Redmond, 42, said Over-the-Rhine's diversity drew her and husband, Mike, to their home on Mulberry Street, the northern border of Tract 17 in Cincinnatti, Ohio. "I don't want to live in a neighborhood where everybody makes the same amount of money as I do," Holly Redmond said. (Ernest Coleman/MCT) MCT

St. Francis Seraph Ministry operates a soup kitchen in census tract 17 in Cincinnati, Ohio. "We see these people suffering every day. They used to have a place where they could live affordably and now they don't know where they're going to live," ays James "Bubs" Kindt, resource coordinator at the Ministry. (Ernest Coleman/MCT) MCT

Holly Redmond, 42, said Over-the-Rhine's diversity drew her and husband, Mike, to their home on Mulberry Street, the northern border of Tract 17 in Cincinnati, Ohio. "I don't want to live in a neighborhood where everybody makes the same amount of money as I do," Holly Redmond said. (Ernest Coleman/MCT) MCT